scared of weather

[metrodriver]

Several years ago I flew a metro from Oklahoma City to Wichita. About the same time a C310 would fly the same leg. Normally this pilot would listen to us talk to ATC and make the same decision (he had no radar, we had color tv ). This particular night he was off and a replacement was flying the run (and he didn't listen very well). There was a long line of level 5 and 6 storms, and for nearly half an hour we flew S turns in front of it to get a clear picture of the line and possible holes in it. Nothing. So we bailed out and went to our next intended stop, leaving it to company to rescue the cargo. Mr C310 however thought he was tough and could make it through alive. That he just barely did, but after he landed called up his boss and told him to send another pilot to continue the run, he was done flying for that night. I'm pretty sure the left seat had changed it's appearance (and smell) a bit.

Taking a look at radar before a flight is a standard practise for me, even with radar on board. It has saved my day many times. Once I did that and suggested the captain to take on extra fuel. He took my word and when we were close to our destination (DFW) a bad storm closed the field. Two hours holding later we were the first to land, everyone else had diverted and arrived several hours later, some even next day because of duty time limits being exceeded.

 

[wingnutt]

well, it looks as if most of ya'll agree as a whole...thats good

as a side note, i never implied that i had not been involved in things mentioned, just that...

1) i dont brag about em
2) i dont condone em
3) ill never do em again
4) if i can keep some fool from attempting similar, you bet i will.

...and radar IN the plane was not the subject, i was referring to radar on the ground. think about it...if your stupid enough to have radar in your aircraft, and still not look at it in the midst of a Level 5 embedded, well then perhaps you get what you deserve

A 17,000 hour pilot got struck by lightening last week near my home base and did 5X the 10K number you posted, but do you think anyone criticized him?

...gee thats great, but the aircraft i referred to wasnt even worth "5x the 10k" in whole, or in part

 

[uscpilot]

If you ask me the majority of our 310's are flying turds. There are a few exceptions: 00G, NT, and CS ( hey it has an a/p and radar).
Hey jbDC9 what's an airconditioner, you mean the blower, the window or the door right?
And scubabri there are times you would gladly give up your other nut to get out of the scary situation.
Fly safe, so long as you get the checks there on time

 

[jbDC9]

Actually I'm 98% sure that 15C had a real, no kidding air conditioner... on/off switch was on the lower right subpanel and the air outlet was in the aft part of the cabin, above the "hat shelf", blowing forward along the ceiling. Maybe I was hallucinating, but the air seemed cool, not cold, and nice to have on a warm night. This was over 10 years ago, so maybe they yanked it outta there though... wouldn't surprise me.

 

[uscpilot]

Hey jbDC9 i dont think i have flown 15C, however you must have been hallucinating, it happens to me all the time in those convection ovens. The switch may have been there like the yaw dampener switch, you turn it on think wow i have a yaw dampener; even though it does absolutly nothing.
Just kidding, it may have had a/c, i think that a couple of barons in CMH still have it.
BoilerBacker, its been a while since i flew the barons. I flew out of DAL, they were all pretty sweet. With the exception of 67Q (which now is supposed to be decked out) all the planes had radar, they were mostly the old Midway barons (very nice). But i do like the idea not wasting time diverting since you are already flying blind.
Later